Now that Kuany is signed, the squad is officially set. Let's talk about it.

It is a SQUAD! Are there question marks? Of course, but the potential is through the roof. If the answers to those questions trend to the favorable sides, I think we may be in for a James Madison/Indiana State kind of year, hopefully without that Sycamores screw job in March.

Questions:

1) Will AJ Brown be 100% recovered and will he be improved from the little we saw of him last year?
2) Is Victor Searls an upgrade over Gabe Wiznitzer?
4) Will Evans and/or Kuany be in the rotation?
5) Is Ben Nicol ready for the rotation?
6) Will each of our many guards accept their role?
7) Will EJIV be back to form?

I think we have the potential to be an elite three point shooting team. Sheldon and Clayton were above 40% last year. AJB was 38% as a freshman. EJIV was over 40% as a freshman. Pavaletzke is career 40%. Hadaway and Reef have had their streaks. Nicol by some accounts may be the best pure shooter on the team.

I'm also excited about the different combinations we can throw on the floor together. We can go one big with a lot of guards. We can space with shooters. If Searls and one of the freshman forwards are ready to go, we can pair one of those guys with Clayton for a two big lineup, something I don't think we saw at any point last year. We can put Hadaway at the three and have a "height" lineup. We could go Shereef, Elliott, EJIV, Hadaway, and Clayton for a defensive lineup. HAVOC anyone?

I'm on the hype train this year. I'm drinking the Ricky beer. I see a team that should not only be picked to win the MAC but has the makings to win in the dance.

I’m on the hype train with this season’s team as well. Even with the questions, I think it’s the most complete roster we’ve had since 21/22 — prior to losing DW3 and McDay.

AJB is the biggest question mark for me and the difference between being a 20+ win team to having a James Madison/Indiana State season as you put it.

If we get AJB from 22/23 MAC tourney through last season’s Troy game, the ceiling is very high imo. Experience is on our side with a lot of upperclassmen and continuity among returnees. I really like the starting lineup of AJC, Hadaway, AJB, Shereef, and Paveltzke.

Based on Boals comments about Kuany adding depth to the front court, I’m guessing that means he expects contributions right away. If we can get 8-10 mins from him and Evans each, along with 10-15 from Searls, we’ve really solved our biggest issue from a year ago.

A lot to look forward to going into this season.

1) Will AJ Brown be 100% recovered and will he be improved from the little we saw of him last year?
(Considering he was also hurt his freshman year, we haven’t seen the true AJB (except for Ball State MAC Tourney game. Based off the Boals summer interview with Russ, I’m not so sure he’ll be ready to go in November 2024. My expectations are very tempered for November/December).

2) Is Victor Searls an upgrade over Gabe Wiznitzer?
(Short answer: YES).

4) Will Evans and/or Kuany be in the rotation?
(Great question. I hope so, but wouldn’t be surprised if one of them doesn’t crack the rotation come January.

5) Is Ben Nicol ready for the rotation?
(The big mystery. People keep saying good things. We need him to contribute).

6) Will each of our many guards accept their role?
(I believe so. If not, a defection would have happened).

7) Will EJIV be back to form?
(Really hope so. I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt due to injury for his struggles after he got hurt. Need him to hit the corner 3 again.

I'm hoping (and think) rebounding will be improved with the additional size, but you're right about protecting the rim. That profile doesn't exist on our roster.

THE Distributor is almost certainly going to have to be Jackson Paveletzke. Reef is a pretty good ball handler but he has a scorer mentality. Burris and Elliot come in as shooting or combo guards in high school. Sheldon's role is mostly as a shooter. James and Brown certainly aren't point guards.

I think that Paveletzke is probably going to be at least good and possibly great as the starting point guard. I don't think that it will happen but I think the most credible way that we end up close to the "floor" end of win total predictions other than injuries is that Paveletzke just never develops chemistry in running this offense.

I'm not going to predict who will lead this team in assists. However, I will say that Hadaway will be among the top 2 Bobcats in assists.

Boals has rarely been a heavy 30+ min type of coach, would be great if we could get a tighter line-up similar to 20 + 21 with some true leaders and everyone knows/fills their role around Reef, AJB and potentially Jackson P (If we get Wofford JP, he could maybe be that 25-30 min guy). AJC will probably be near 30. Hadaway around 25. Elmore probably similar. Like you mentioned, doesn't leave a lot of meat left on the bone.

Boals Era 30 min Guys:
2023: Jaylin/Reef
2022: Jaylin (29.3)
2021: Sears/BVP/Miles
2020: Preston/BVP/Mcday (29.6)

2024: Reef/AJB/AJC/JP... Hadaway/Elmore: 25.... leaves minimal time for maybe 10 mins for AJS, Evans, Searls... Nicol, Kuany, Burris end of bench minutes at best? Redshirts this day and age are a death wish, but minutes don't look abundant.

I am NOT at all suggesting Searls isn't as good as Wiz. I just think Wiz was a necessary evil based on the roster we had. With Kuany & Evans, I am hoping we no longer feel the need to play a guy solely on the basis of being tall. Unless he wows in practice, I would prefer he not be in the rotation so we can develop the freshmen for the future.

I will guess Searls will kill Evans and Kuany early on in practice with a keen sense of post play as well as an IQ only earned by playing 4 years and starting 3 at any level. Will Evans and/or Kuany pass him? Maybe. But Searls is going to get 8 to 10 mins per game and be a 6 and 6 guy at the very least.

He was at Wofford (league freshman of the year).

But right part of the country.

I think just the opposite on Searls. Even though its D2, he is experienced, which puts him ahead of the young guys. If his game translates to D1, he gets minutes, at least into January as the young guys develop. If his game does not translate, he's like you say, insurance.

I thought maybe Zeke Marshall off the cuff, but he was at 16.8mpg 5.1ppg 3.9rpg his freshman year.

A good baseline combo comp for Evans and Kuany could be Ivo and Keely.

Keely’s freshman year he played 16mpg and averaged 5ppg and 4rpg. Ivo played 11mpg and averaged 3ppg and 3rpg.

I do think Evans and Kuany have more upside coming in as freshman, however.

I thought Trent was a given, but good call out with Kaman. Payton Sparks is another. All three are around 250+ lbs. I'd guess having that type of weight to throw around played a role in their success.

If I recall, Tony Campbell finished the last 8-10 games averaging around 10ppg and 5rpg his freshman year. Similar build as Trent and Sparks.